From the first edit George Lucas made to the original three Star Wars movies, purists have been preferring the original, unedited versions of the films in all their cheesy SFX glory. When the news was announced earlier this week that Walt Disney Company had purchased Lucasfilm, and, with it, the rights to Star Wars, those purists were excited at the prospect that Disney might release an unedited version of the films in high definition. However, things might not be so simple.

As it turns out, while Disney now owns the rights to the Star Wars brand and future Star Wars movies, Twentieth Century Fox still owns the rights to the first six movies. Episodes 1, 2, 3, 5, and 6 will revert back to Disney in 2020, but Fox will retain the rights to Episode 4: A New Hope, the first movie, forever. Or until the world ends this December.

Unfortunately, this means that Disney, who is famous for respecting the hell out of its classic films, can't simply release the original movies on Blu Ray. Though they will probably want to release a set in 2015 when Episode 7 comes out, they will need to cut a deal with Fox to do so. And Fox will probably agree, because Fox likes money too. But we will have to wait and see just what that set will contain.

Also, reportedly, Fox will continue to release the Star Wars movies in 3D as they did with Episode 1: The Phantom Menace earlier this year.

From the first edit George Lucas made to the original three Star Wars movies, purists have been preferring the original, unedited versions of the films in all their cheesy SFX glory. When the news was announced earlier this week that Walt Disney Company had purchased Lucasfilm, and, with it, the rights to Star Wars, those purists were excited at the prospect that Disney might release an unedited version of the films in high definition. However, things might not be so simple.

As it turns out, while Disney now owns the rights to the Star Wars brand and future Star Wars movies, Twentieth Century Fox still owns the rights to the first six movies. Episodes 1, 2, 3, 5, and 6 will revert back to Disney in 2020, but Fox will retain the rights to Episode 4: A New Hope, the first movie, forever. Or until the world ends this December.

Unfortunately, this means that Disney, who is famous for respecting the hell out of its classic films, can't simply release the original movies on Blu Ray. Though they will probably want to release a set in 2015 when Episode 7 comes out, they will need to cut a deal with Fox to do so. And Fox will probably agree, because Fox likes money too. But we will have to wait and see just what that set will contain.

Also, reportedly, Fox will continue to release the Star Wars movies in 3D as they did with Episode 1: The Phantom Menace earlier this year.